'One of The Hardest Decisions': Lewis Hamilton Confirms Mercedes Exit, Joins Ferrari From 2025

It is official. In one of the most shocking turn of events in F1 history, Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes-AMG and join forces with Scuderia Ferrari from the 2025 season onwards.

After multiple alleged reports stating the same, both of the racing teams involved finally released official statements confirming the monumental move of the British icon away from his team of 11 years.

“The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season. Lewis has activated a release option in the contract announced last August and this season will therefore be his last driving for the Silver Arrows’, read an official statement released by Mercedes.

Meanwhile, the news of Hamilton’s move to the Italian superpower was confirmed by Ferrari, who released an official statement of their own that simply read,” Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract.”

Hamilton has raced for the Silver Arrows since the 2013 season and has won six of his seven world titles with the team, adding to the crown he achieved at McLaren earlier in his career.

He had also re-committed to Mercedes last summer, signing a new deal to keep him aboard through 2025, but this will now be cut short to allow for his headline-making move.

Hamilton, in the statement released by Mercedes,  described his decision to leave Mercedes as “one of the hardest decisions” ever.

“I have had an amazing 11 years with this team [Mercedes] and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together,” said Hamilton. “Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge,” read Hamilton’s statement.

Mercedes Team Principal and CEO, Toto Wolff, also paid his homage to the era of dominance they had established with Hamilton at the helm and said that they were focused on delivering the best possible performance in the remaining season they are left with.

“Our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history.

“However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come. We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.”

Hamilton, in turn, paid tribute to the team with whom he scripted nothing short of history, including the most wins with 103 and equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles.

“I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember, ” stated Hamilton.